A regional energy company has helped create an environmentally-friendly option for kids.
Enbridge Inc. has committed $30,000 to the creation of a natural play space at Holiday Beach in Amherstburg. Representatives from Enbridge and the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) dedicated the playground Wednesday, along with Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo and students from the Natural Pathways Forest and Nature School.
The main difference between a conventional playground and a natural play space is that with a natural space, elements such as sand, boulders, logs, and others are incorporated.
"This natural playground is a great asset to Holiday Beach Conservation Area," said Essex Region Conservation Foundation President Claire Wales. "Children can engage in imaginative and active play at this unique nature-inspired playground."
Studies have shown that children who use natural playgrounds benefit from the development of motor skills, the prevention of obesity, and the improvement of eye-hand coordination.
Enbridge has also helped with the development of the Holiday Beach Demonstration Wetland, a controlled wetland that helps reduce phosphorus, resulting in improved water quality.
The Holiday Beach Conservation Area welcomes roughly 30,000 visitors a year.
Complete information on the conservation area can be found on ERCA's official website.
